Arc fault protection is basically a breaker that can be installed in your service panel that will detect when there’s a small break in the circuit. For instance, a lamp cord has a small nick or cut in it, therefore creating micro sparks that you don’t even know are present and creating heat. This laying on the carpet is waiting to start a fire. The breaker will trip before that happens. But there is more to this than just popping in a new breaker. The circuit that you are protecting MUST have it’s own dedicated neutral wire. The reason I say this is that it’s very common for houses to be wired with two circuits that share one neutral. So if you wanted to arc fault protect an existing circuit you most likely would have to pull a new dedicated neutral wire for it.

What if a stupid drunk buddy spills his beer on your pin?

Believe me, that would be letting him off easy if that happened.